The body of the late Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, has arrived in Uganda, ushering in a nine-day mourning period across the kingdom ahead of his burial on September 12, 2026.
The mourning period officially runs from September 4 to September 12, with the Babiito Royal Clan calling on Tooro subjects to observe the period according to the kingdom’s customs and traditions.
Among the first instructions is a suspension of farming throughout the nine days.
Babiito Royal Clan spokesperson Moses Amooti said the restriction reflects traditional mourning practices in Tooro. He explained that farming normally stops for three days following the death of an ordinary person, four days when a member of the Babiito clan dies and nine days when the deceased is a king.
“We therefore do not expect Batooro to engage in farming,” Amooti said, urging subjects to dedicate the period to mourning and respecting the kingdom’s cultural traditions.
The mourning instructions extend into people’s homes as well.
Men have been asked to leave their marital beds and abstain from sexual intimacy with their wives throughout the nine-day period. According to Amooti, the measure forms part of the expectations surrounding traditional mourning for the late king.
The Babiito Royal Clan has also appealed to bars, entertainment venues and members of the public to avoid playing loud music while the kingdom mourns.
Amooti described loud entertainment during the mourning period as disrespectful and called for patience until the king is laid to rest.
“That is mockery. We urge you to be patient for at least nine days,” he said, urging the public to avoid activities that could disturb the peace of those mourning.
The restrictions are expected to remain in force until September 12, when King Oyo will be buried and the official nine-day mourning period comes to an end.
For Tooro, the days ahead will therefore be marked not only by grief, but by a closely observed set of traditional practices surrounding the death and burial of a reigning king.